Norfolk foodbank warns families could face 'nightmare' of falling through benefits gap
The Child Poverty Action Group warns that over a quarter of tax credit claimants could fall through the gap
Last updated 31st Aug 2023
A Norfolk foodbank is warning that local families could face 'the absolute nightmare' of not having their benefits moved onto the new system.
It's as the Government transitions those on older payments to Universal Credit.
The Child Poverty Action Group's warning the action could see over a quarter of tax credit claimants fall through the gap.
The government is aiming for so-called 'managed migration', for people to be moved from claiming legacy benefits to Universal Credit, to be completed by 2024.
"It means they can't plan and budget"
Helen Gilbert is the manager of King's Lynn foodbank:
"It can be an absolute nightmare for people. We are talking about people that don't have a vast amount of income coming in anyhow.
"Over the last 18 months there has been such a massive increase in everything, across the board. People have been building up debt over the last 18 months.
"It's problematic for people as well, because it means they can't plan and budget around un-known income.
"That can really help people's pockets and minds. At the moment, people are having to pay for new school uniform and come winter they'll have to pay for coats."
"An alarm is ringing loud and clear for the DWP"
The CPAG called on the DWP to change the rules so that no-one has their old benefits halted until they have been successfully moved on to Universal Credit.
CPAG chief executive, Alison Garnham, said: "Something is really wrong when 28% of people who have maintained a tax credit claim haven't gotten a UC claim off the ground.
"And with the managed migration to UC set to continue apace, it's desperately worrying that so many families are at risk of having their tax credits summarily stopped because they haven't got a UC award up and running.
"An alarm is ringing loud and clear for the DWP - unless it gets more help to the families it's migrating to UC, they could lose a financial lifeline.
"We and many others warned all along that not every family would successfully claim UC within the deadline and that terminating their current benefits is draconian and potentially disastrous for the children concerned.
"The Department must change its rules so that no household selected for managed migration has its current benefits stopped until it's safely in receipt of UC. The risk involved in moving from old to new benefits should be shouldered by the DWP and not by families on low incomes."
What has the Government said?
The Department for Work and Pension says those who need the money now can apply for an advanced payment.